Device for opening and closing gas-taps from a distance.



B. G. H. PEGLER.

DEVIGE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING GAS TAPS FROM A DISTANCE. APPLICATIONFILED MAY 7, 191d.

982,861. v PatentedJam3L1911.

2 GREEN-SHEET 1.

B. G. H. PBGLER. DEVICE FOR OPENING AND GLOSING GAS TAPS FROM ADISTANCE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1910.

982,861, Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETvSr-SHEET 2.

BERNARD CHARLES HOLMES PEGLER, OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING GAS-TAPS FROM A. DISTANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Application filed May 7, 1910. Serial No. 560,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD CHARLES l-IoLnns PEGLER, a subject of theKing of England, residing at Allerton House, Kingstonupon-Thames, in thecounty of Surrey, England, have invented new and useful Improvements inDevices for Opening and Closing Gas-Taps from a'Distance, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved appliance for regulating the supplyof gas for lighting or other purposes, and refers to improvements inmeans for turning on and off a tap for the supply of gas to a burner,such means being applicable also for other purposes where it is desiredto obtain semirotary motion controlled from a distance.

The invention is of the type in which a weight is caused to move fromone end to the other of a vessel or container pivoted toward its middleand actuating the gas or other tap, such weight being caused to movefrom side to side of the fulcrum by variation of' fluid pressure.

Devices of this type as hitherto constructed have utilized liquids formoving the gravity controlled device, the liquid being moved by means ofgas pressure supplied from the main, in some cases entering through ahollow fulcrum or pivot upon which the liquid container is mounted.

My invention relates to a device in which in place of employing aliquid, a heavy sliding piston is used in the cylinder andpneumaticmeans is added for propelling the piston from one end to the other ofthe cylinder, a device which is obviously much more practicable than theutilization of a liquid for actuating the gravity controlled device.

In the usual form of this apparatus which I will describe as appliedto'the turning on or off of a gas tap by way of example, I attachtemporarily or permanently to the plug of a gas tap and by preferencealmost in a horizontal position, a cylindrical tube having an easilysliding piston which in being blown from one end of the c linder to theother in the manner hereina ter described, weighs down that end of thecylinder in which the piston happens for the. time being to remain.Thus, by compressing the bulb at the distant point alternately the heavypiston can be driven from one end to the other of the cylinder, causinga rocking motion of such cylinder and the plug to which it is attached.At each end of the cylinder is a ball valve opening inward when the ballis off its seating. When the cylinder is tilted with the right endupward the air enters on the left end or lower side of the cylinder, andthe ball closing over the valve will not allow the exit of the air fromthe cylinder and, therefore, it drives the piston to its highestposition, tilts the cylinder over and thus turns the gas on. The air infront of the piston is driven out upward through the open valve, theball having in the mean time fallen away from itsseating.

In order to control the entrance of the air into the correct position,underneath the piston a second central valve is made in such a way thata ball or other valve closes the opening to the part of the cylinderwhich is for the time being uppermost only allowing air to come downwardunder the piston to enable it to be forced into its uppermost position.It is easily understood that by means of a ratchet upon the axis of theplug and a pawl upon the actuating cylinder a continuous rotary motioninone direction only can be given to such ratchet wheel and plug. In thiscase there would be no subsidiary central valves but the air would bedriven in below the piston and would merely force the piston to itsuppermost position during a space of time sufiicient to actuate theratchet by means of the ascending pawl. And in order that my saidinvention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe thesame with, reference to the drawing accompanying this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is an elevation of a burner with my device fittedthereto; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the mechanism in anotherposition; Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammaticviews explaining the action of the mechanism; Fig. 6 is an elevation ofa modified form of the device; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of same; Fig.8 is an elevation of a third form of the device;

Figs. 9 to 11 are details explaining the construction and action of thisform of the device. Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and elevation respectivelyof a method of attaching the device. Figs. 14 to 17 show a furthermethod of carrying out the invention and a method of attaching thedevice to the tap or the like to be actuated.

The same letters of reference are employed to denote the same parts inall the views.

a shows the burner fitting provided with the ordinary tap Z). Throughthe hole through which the handle or lever actuating the tap is usuallypassed, is inserted a screw pin 0 held in position by means of a screwnut (Z. The pin 0 is bent twice as shown at Fig. 3, and is attached bymeans of a suit able nut e to a cylinder f. As the ordinary taps aremade with the perforation and actuating lever in more than one position,either vertical or horizontal, the pin 0 can be fixed by means of thenut 0 either in the same plane with the cylinder f or at right anglesthereto, or it may be set at any other angle according to the burner towhich it is to be adapted. The cylinder f is provided at each end with acap 9 having a central perforation, and located beneath each of theseperforations and within the cylinder 7 is a small ball valve it kept inthe neighborhood of the hole by means of a cross bar attached to thecap. m is a heavy piston fitting closely in but moving easily in thecylinder 7. nis a valve chamber attached to the cylinder f and having apipe 10 leading from the source of air pressure. The ends of the valvechamber n communicate by pipes g and 1" with opposite ends of thecylinder 7, as will be seen from the drawing. The valve chamber n isprovided with a small ball 8. The action of this form of the device willbe easily understood :-Supposing the parts are in the position shown atFig. 1 and that a pressure of air is created in the valve chamber a bymeans, say, of an air bulb blowing through the pipe p, the air can onlypass through the pipe 0" since the small ball 8 closes the other pipe 9.Consequently, the air passing down the said pipe at 1' comes below thepiston m and as the ball 72. at this end is over the hole in the cap 70,the air forces the piston m to the opposite end of the cylinder f,causing it to overbalance and turn the tap Z), allowing the gas to lightby means of a pilot flame. 'VVhen it is required to turn ofi the gas itis simply necessary to again squeeze the air bulb when the operationwill be reversed, as the ball 8 will have fallen over to the other endof the valve chamber 12, and closed the passage 7, andthe air will thusbe compelledto pass through the pipe q and actuate the piston m in theopposite direction. In each case the motion of the piston m is notimpeded by the air in front of it, as the small ball h at the forwardend drops on to the cross bar 7c.

Referring to the form of the device shown at Figs. 6 and 7, in this casean application is shown in which pressure and suction are relied uponfor actuating the mechanism.

In this case the cylinder f is provided with a piston m and a cap t hasentering at the center thereof a pipe to which is in communication witha small air pump. The opposite end of the cylinder f is provided with acap 1) having a simple hole w. In this case the cylinder f is providedwith a plate at to which the fitting of the screw pin 0 is attached,.and upon which it can be set in the required position as previouslydescribed.

The action of this device is as follows :-Assnming the device. to be inthe position shown at Fig. 6, when a pressure of air passes down thepipe a the piston m is shot to the other end of the cylinder f, the airin front of it escaping through the orifice cu in the cap 4). Thecylinder f consequently overbalances turning on the gas. When it is required to turn it off by means of pulling up the plunger of the pump andcreating a suction through the tube u, the piston m is drawn bacle bymeans of suction, air entering through the hole '21 and the tap isturned in the opposite direction.

Referring to the forms of the device shown at Figs. '8 to 11, in thiscase the cylinder f which may be fitted in a similar way to thatdescribed with reference to Figs. 6 and 7, has a tube 2 attachedthereto. This tube a is closed at its outer end and divided into twochambers 2 and 3. The chamber 2 is in connection with a pipe t and thechamber 3 in connection with a pipe 5, the pipes t and 5 leading to theopposite ends of the cylinder 7". The chambers Qand 3 are also furnishedwith entry holes 10 and 11. 6 is a longitudinally fluted slot, used forthe purpose hereinafter explained. 7 is a sleeve embracing the tube aand having fitted thereto a pipe 8 for the admission of the air. Thispipe and sleeve are held fixedly in position to the burner by anysuitable means not shown on the drawing, and the sleeve 7 is providedwith two outlet holes 9.

In actuating the device suppose the parts to be in the position shown atFigs. 8 and 9, when a pressure of air enters through the pipe 8, itpasses into the chamber 2- through the hole 10, thence along the pipe 4behind the piston m and forces the piston m to the other end of thecylinder. This drives the air from the other end. of the cylinderthroughthe pipe 5 into the chamber 3, thence through the holes 11 and 9 intothe open air. The mechanism thence passes over into the position shownat Fig. 11.

- The object of the fluted slot 6 will 'be understood from the followingconsideration. If the operator continues to press the bulb after themechanism has started turning, the excess of pressure not used inblowing the piston m over escapes through the pipe 8 and along thefluted slot 6 into the open air. Where this is not the case, thecylinder would overbalance and still having the v the cylinder 7 turns.

Cir

pressure through the pipe 8 would imme cliately return to the firstposition. It will be evident that this form of the device may be soconstructed and attached that the tube 2 is fixed while the sleeve 7 iscaused to r0 tate, the pipe 8 in that case being attached to the tube.2.

Coming now to the form of the device shown at Figs. 12 and 13, theseshow a*- preferred way of attaching any of the forms already describedto the burner. 12 is a ring attached over the burner by means of anadjustable screw 13. This is provided with an outwardly and downwardlyextend-' ing back portion 14, carrying a pivot 15 which forms-one of thepivots upon which Attached to the cylin der f are two spring arms 16which are provided attheir outer ends with jaws 17 which spring againstthe actuating portion of the gas tap, and by means of which the tap isturned. The drawing shows the device in an intermediate position withthe tap half on. This form of the device is particularly advantageous asit can be fitted very quickly on to an existing tap. It is simplynecessary to put on the ring 12 to tighten up the screw 13 and to clampthe jaws 17 around the burner and over the actuating portion of the tap,and the device is ready for use. It is, moreover, extremely wellbalanced when in use.

Referring to Figs. 14 to 17, in this form of the device the attachmentis effected by means of a spring clip 18 embracing the outside of theburner. This clip has a depending portion 19 to which is attached acircular plate 20. This plate is shown detached at Fig. 15, from whichit will be seen that it is provided with a central hole 21 and two otherholes 22 placed diametrically opposite one another and a fourth hole 23,which last hole communicates with the air supply pipe 2st. The cylinderf is furnished with a bush 25 which is seen at Fig. 16. This bush hastwo holes 26 communicating with pipes 27 leading to the opposite ends ofthe cylinder as before explained, and a groove 28 similar in function tothe fluted slot 6 already described. This bush has a central hole intowhich screws a spindle 29 passing through the central hole 21 in theplate 20, where'the surface of the spindle is plain e. not screwthreaded) and made with a disk 30 coming on the outside of the plate 20and having two holes in the same relative angular position as the holes26. It will be seen that the plate 20 is always in one position and thatthe bush 25 and the disk 30 revolve on either side of it moving with thecylinder f. When in one position the air passes through the hole 23,through one of the holes 26 to the lower end of the cylinder, andblowsthe piston to the other end, the

air being forced out in front of the piston through one of the pipes 27the other hole 26, through one of the holes 22 and out to the open air,through one of the holes in the outer plate.

It will be seen from Fig. 14: that the hole 23 passes right through theplate 22 so that when air is blown through the pipe 24: it exerts apressure both on the bush 25 and on the plate 20, which balance oneanother and thus prevent any binding action which might arise if thehole 25 only communicated with the bush 20.

Referring to the portion for actuating the tap, this comprises aclamping device 31 to be clamped around the actuating portion of the tapwhich is extended into recess tubes 32 or other equivalent devices intothe holes of which tubes bent spring arms 33 attached to the cylinder ftake, so that no weight comes upon the tap.

It will be understood that the various forms of the device hereindescribed and shown on the accompanying drawing are given by way ofexample only as I may modify the methods of carrying out the inventionin several ways to suit particular cases without departing from theprinciple of the invention. Moreover, although I have explained theapplication of the invention to the actuation of gas taps it will beunderstood that the device may be applied in many other cases where itis required to impart a rotary motion to a device espe cially when suchdevice is fixed at a distance from the operator or in an inaccessibleposition.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the UnitedStates of America, 1s:-

1. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder connected to the tap so as to open and close the same, caps toclose said cylinder at its ends, a sliding piston within said cylinderadapted to be operated from a distance and means to alternately propelsaid piston from one end of the cylinder to the other, for the purposeof opening and closing said tap.

2. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder connected to the tap so as to open and close the same, caps toclose said cylinder at its ends, and a chamber attached to saidcylinder, pipes communicating with the opposite ends of said chamber andcylinder, means to control the air supply of said chamber, ball controlled gravity valves at both ends of the cylinder, and means tooperate said controlling means and said valves.

3. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder connected to the tap so as to open and close the same, caps toclose said cylinder at its ends, a sliding piston within said cylinderadapted to be operated from a distance, a chamber attached to thecylinder, pipes coinmunt eating with the opposite ends of the chamberand cylinder, a ball controlling the air supply to said chamber, ballcontrolled gravity valves within the caps of said cylinder and crossbars for positioning the balls of said valves and means to operate saidcylinder from a distance.

at. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder connected to the tap so as to open and close the same, asliding piston within said cylinder, closing caps at both ends of saidcylinder, a pipe entering through one of the caps, means to propel thepiston to the other end of said cylinder, and means to return saidcylinder into its original position.

5. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder connected to the tap so as to open and close the same, asliding piston Within said cylinder, closing caps at both ends of thecylinder, pipes extending through both caps into said cylinder, a tubeclosed at its outer end attached to the cylinder, two chambers, pipescommunicating with the opposite ends of said chambers and cylinder,means to actuate said piston and means to operate said actuating meansfrom a distance.

6. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder, a ring adjustably secured to said tap, a set screw providing apivot'lor sa1d cylinder, sprmg Jaws presslng agalnst the actuatlngportion of the tap and means to operate said actuating portion from adistance, so as to open and close the tap.

7. In combination with the plug of a gas tap and a pilot light, acylinder, means to operate said cylinder from a distance, a spring clipembracing the burner, a perforated bush upon the cylinder, tubescommunicating With each end of the cylinder and said perforations, acircular plate attached to the burner and having four holes, onecommunicating with said operating means, and the others alternatelycommunicating with said tubes, a clamping device clamped around theactuating part of the tap, recessed tubes into which said clampingdevice extends and bent spring arms attached to the cylinder and bentinto holes of said tubes, substantially as described and for the purposeset forth.

. In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

BERNARD CHARLES HOLMES PEGLER. Witnesses:

H. D. JAMIsoN, R. WESTACO'IT.

